For normal people, here are some tests: try opening documents from 10 years ago. Do they all open reliably, in a readable format? No, mine neither. Then try playing an old YouTube video uploaded five years ago. If it’s still there, the sound volume and quality is probably lower than for modern clips, as old videos constantly degrade to make way for the new.

Now, try reading back over that useful email exchange you had with a colleague in your previous job… That’s not accessible at all, is it?

This information might be “out there forever” in some geeky and legal way. God...